Automobile light-controlling device.



B.'D. LAKE & N. -G. MARKS. AUTOMOBILE LIGHT CONTROLLING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 19121 Patented May 6, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 314 mm wi/bweooao I 6 B 1). LAKE & N. G. MARKS. AUTOMOBILE LIGHT CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILBD'AUG.28,1912. v 1,061,0 7, Patented May 6, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEETZ.

- mT E1- jsTATns PATENT OFFICE.

' auromonrnn merir soonrnotmne nnvrcni.

Specification of Ietters Zlatent.

' liatentedlflay 6, 1913.

Application filed August as, 1912. Serial m5.- 717,553.

To all whom itvmcy concern: Be it known that we, BENJAMIN D. LAKE and Na'rHANmL G; MA'RKs, citizens of the United States, residing at Springfield. in the county of Washington and State of Ken tucky, have invented new and useful'Improvements in Automobile Light-Control lin'g Devices, of whichthe following is a specification.v I

This invention has relation to'headlights for automobiles, kindred machines and. ve-

hicles whereby the'light may he directed in the pathbf the machine whether the travel straight ahead, around a curve or turning a corner, thereby enabling the operator to observe the roadway at such a distance ahead as to avoid an accident- I The invention-consistsin'havingthe headlight mounted so as to turi'i ltbout a vertical axis and having connecting means between such headlight and-the steering mechanism so that. movement of the steering wheels will produce a corresponding movement ofthe headlight to cause the rays of light-to illuminate the roadway ahead of the-machine whether ona straight course, rounding a curve or turning a corn'er.-

The invention consists of thenovel features,.details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth. illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointedout in theappended claims. Referring to the drawings, forming a part of the specification, Figure l. is a fragmentary view in elevation of an automobile, showing the headlight mounted in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a-det'ail plan view. Fig. 3 is a frontview. Fig. 4 is a detail viewof a lamp support, showing more clearly the mountings thereof. Corresponding and like parts are referred to in'thc following description, and. indirated in all the views of the drawings, by the same reference characters. The lamp support 1 is of usual form comprising a stem and a fork and mounted by means of the stem in'a sleeve 2, which is secured to the side bar of the frame in sub- 0 stant-ially the same manner asthc 'dinary' lamp support. in. order to admit of. the lamp support turning freely ball bearings are provided between the sleeve 9. and the stem of the fork. An arm 3 projects laterally from one of the fork members. An e1- bow lever 4 is pivoted to the arm of a frame or other convenient part of the ma; chine. The short arm of the elbow lever extends laterally, whereas the long arm is arranged lengthwise of the machine. A-rod with the arm 3 of the lamp support and passes through a guide 7 fitted to the radiator or other part of. the machine. The long'armof the elbow lever 4 is connected to the 'frame of the engine or "machine by means ofacontractile helical springs. A flexible connection 9 has one end attached to i the long arm of the lever fl and is wrapped siteeiid secured thereto.

The parts are." so proportioned and arstraight ahead the lamp is held in such p'osit-ion as to throw the rays of light in adstecring post to wind up the flexible connecis turned so as to throu thc rays of light in the path of the machine when turning. Upon turning the steering post 10 to unwind the flexible connection '9 the spring 8 contracting moves the lever & and the lamp in an opposite direction to illuminate the'road way in advance of the machine when turning in an opposite direction. The flexible connection 9 is kept uhdcr tension at all times by means of the spring 8. The lamp support upon one side of the machine .iS connected withthe lamp support on the rod-11, which has its ends attached to theshort arms 12 projecting from the lamp sup orts.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying draw ings. the advantages of the construct-ion and of themethod of operation will be readily apparent to'thos'e skilled in the art'to which the invention appertains, and whilewe have invcntion. together with the .device' which we now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when de sired as are. within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

is claimed as new, is

1. In combinationwith the main frame described the principle of operation of the bracket 5,'wh ich is secured to the engine 6 connects the short arm ofgthe elbow lever about the steering post 10 and has its opporanged that when the macjiinejs' traveling" Vance of themachine. Upon-turning the tion 9 the spring 8 is stretched and the lamp opposite side of the machine bv means of a Having thus described the invention what .110

of a machine or. vehicle, a headlight mount-- ed on such frame and free to turn about a.

vertical. axis, asteer'ing post, an elbow lever having arms of different lengths pivoted to said. rame with the short arm projecting lateral? and the long arm extending lengthwise o .theframe, a flexible connection attached at one end to the. long arm of the elbow lever and having its opposite end porthe elbow lever; with the main frame, and

tion wound around the steering post, a. contractile spring connecting the longarm of connecting means between the-short arm {of the elbow lever and the headlight.

chine onvehicle, headlight suplfoi'ts mountf 2., In combination a' main frame of a maed at opposite sides of the. main frame toturn about ve'rtical axes, arms projecting from the headlight supports, a rod connect ing 'sucharms, an elbow lever pivoted to the mam frame and having one arm r0- jecting laterally and its other arm'exten ing' lengthwise of the frame, a second arm'projectihgfi'onrlbne of the headlight supports), a rod connecting such second-arm with the lateral arm of the-elbow lever, a steering post, a fiexible connection between the steermg post and the longitudinalarm of the elbow lever, and acontractile spring between the frame and longitudinal arm qf the lever In testimony whereof we affixour sigma.- tures in presence of two witnesgses; 

